Five Finds on Friday: Ben Thompson
Photo by Sarah Cramer Shields.
On Fridays we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Ben Thompson of the pork butcher The Rock Barn. A trained chef, Thomspon may be the only man in town whose resume includes Per Se and The French Laundry. You can enjoy The Rock Barn’s products at top restaurants all over Charlottesville, or buy directly from The Rock Barn at area farmers’ markets. Better yet, try a Porkshare, where each month you get a different selection of cuts, plus expert tips and recipes on what to do with them. Thompson’s picks:
1) The Gyro at The Ivy Inn. “This is not always on the menu, but just pop in the back door and tell the guys to stop service and make you one.”
2) Bellisima Pizza at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “See all previous mentions. Everybody else already said it.”
3) Steel Wheels ESB from The Barrel House of Blue Mountain Brewery. “Great balance of drinkability and complexity. My ‘go to’ when it is available. Growlers or cans.”
4) Citra Hops Kombucha from Nugget’s Raw Kombucha. “Straightforward. Gets you right. Brings you back.
5) The Rock Barn Bratwurst at Beer Run. “Shameless plug. Proud to have my sausage in their hands. They do a great job.”
